Shane O’Donnell says that Clare are back in the Munster final on merit this time.

Contesting the provincial showpiece for the second consecutive season suggests a reasonable level of consistency from Clare though last year they got there by winning a single game - an unconvincing victory against Limerick.

But after beating last year’s All-Ireland finalists Waterford, recording a first Championship victory over Tipperary in Thurles for 90 years and then dominating a rejuvenated Limerick on Sunday last, no one can quibble with the route this time.

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“It’s been a long time since we had success,” O’Donnell acknowledged. “We feel this is a better earned Munster final place than it was last year, but we certainly want to get our hands on silverware.

“Leagues and that stuff are great and all, but Munster championship and All-Ireland finals are really what you are looking for when you start hurling at the start of the year.

“It will be a massive game, Cork are a great team but we are coming good.”

O’Donnell feels the new format has helped Clare, adding: “There was huge pressure on this one game [in the old system] that you were building up to for months and then there was a massive lay-off until another game.

“When you get to go week on week or every second weekend, there’s serious enjoyment in all of the games and you are going out and just enjoying yourself because you don’t have time to get hung up or get worried about it. It’s great.”

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